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Maryland has been pretty fair towards my husband, so far anyway.

I'm in the bible belt, TN. At least they don't have the AWA here... yet. We moved here to be closer to my bro and cuz it's cheaper here. I'm a lil tired of moving but that's because we have so much stuff that doesn't fit in our trailer. We're slowly paring down more and more so it's not as much of an issue. I don't want to move again anytime soon. But we may have no choice who knows. I'm hoping that when I go to prison I won't be too far away from my mom and bro.

I think that it really depends on where you live in TN, I know people in that neck of the woods that get harassed by the local police when they come to do checks and they have been off supervision for over 20 years. So like most places even here in WI, it depends a lot on where you live within that state that also makes a difference.

I was google mapping Salem, Massachusetts (of all places) and they have a gigantic building that specifically says, "Sex Offender Registration Building" It's fitting since it is the witch hunt town, although I have heard that MA isn't that bad. It just stinks if every town there is like that though. Kind of hard to hide what you're going there for.

I would prefer the AWA act over what we have in California. Everyone is registered for life, and the counties and cities are making their own restrictions on top of Jessica's Laws. Our registry is growing at about 400 per month. At last count, we had roughly 193,000 on the registry! Thirty years ago there were about 4 sex offender laws on the books, now I heard there are roughly 185.
I am a naive here, and can not think of anywhere else that I would want to live. So...I prefer to stay and FIGHT!

I am very appreciative for all the discussion and information you have all been kind enough to submit. I check weakly to see if anything new pops up.. Thanks again everyone

I am very appreciative for all the discussion and information you have all been kind enough to submit. I check weakly to see if anything new pops up.. Thanks again everyone

my fiance and I are in TX, and he really hasn't had a problem (knocking on wood, hoping I haven't just jinxed us....) He's got no restrictions.

I was told the other day , if you recieved an SIS and no conviction. You can go to Illinois to live for a while since you deont have to register there because you have no conviction, then leave the state after a while to a friendly state , and youdont have to let that state know because you came from a state that you didn't have to register. No trail to follow.Q

Hawaii no longer has a registry list. You may want to try Megan's Law for updates on the "best" states to live in. I am not familiar other countries...however I have heard that there are quite a few countries that allow s/o's however the U.S. is the worst when it comes to custom's. Canada does not allow felon's. Hope this helps.

Rewdiazepam and OnceFallen: why do you think that Colorado and Kansas (as well as the other states listed) are the "best" for sex offenders. Do you have any updated information or experience regarding this issue? I'm considering relocating from where I'm living. What have you heard about Texas? Rewdiazepam, why do you think that Colorado is one of the best places for sex offenders?

If I were looking to relocate, I would never choose a state which has the residency restrictions for sex offenders. Typically these states have a law that prevents sex offenders from living within 2,000 or 1,000 feet (the distance depends on the state) from schools, daycare centers, parks, or any place where children congregate. If you take a map and draw a 2.000 or even a 1,000 foot perimeter around every school, daycare center, park, or any place that children may congregate, there are very few places where sex offenders can live. In most cities 90% or more of the city is off limits because of these regulations.

And less face it, if you cannot find a decent place to live, why would any sex offender want to move there?

You can always get around these restrictions if you can find a place in a rural area which is away from any schools, daycare centers, etc. Your best bet is to find a few acres of land and move a mobile home there. Used mobile homes are very reasonable, and a couple can usually fix them up so that they are quite comfortable. This way you have your own land and your won house and would never have to worry about any restrictions. Of course, not all sex offenders have the kind of money required to do that.

I live in Oklahoma, so I know quite a bit about the surrounding states and how they deal with sex offenders. I am fairly sure that Colorado does not have residency restrictions, which is a big plus. As of a couple of years ago, Kansas did not have the residency restrictions, but I do know that in 2011 they were discussing passing some kind of residency law.

One thing is damn sure: You need to stay away from Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. They have passed so many laws against sex offenders that it would be living hell to live there. I know for sure that those states would be off limits.

Colorado would be good because they are not really a part of the Bible Belt. It is a progressive state. Most of the states I mentioned in the previous paragraph are full of rednecks and really ignorant people, which means backward legislators trying to please all these ignorant people. This results in terrible laws for sex offenders.

I only live in Oklahoma because I have to stay to take care of my aging parents and because I live in a rural area on 8 acres---and nobody bothers me.

Another thing that you have to consider is affordability. You want to move to a state where the cost-of-living is reasonable. I think there are some reasonable places in Colorado if you stay away from the Denver area and the resort areas. Kansas is great--it is really a cheap place to live especially in southern Kansas and southeast Kansas. Some of the other places mentioned, the New England states, will be more expensive to live.

Another factor you might want to consider is if the state you want to relocate to has passed the AWA. The state's laws against sex offenders are on factor, but the AWA will add to that.

I do not think Colorado has implemented the AWA yet. If I were going to relocate, I would look into Colorado---it is not a part of the Bible Belt, there are not residency restrictions, they have not passed the Adam Walsh Act, and there are places that are affordable to live.

I know quite a bit about how the prison system (DOC) and how the pardon and parole board deals with sex offenders because I was in the prison system for almost a decade, so I have seen what goes on. But oncefallen is one of the most informed peope you could ever talk to when it comes to sex offender legislation. He has been a strong advocate for reform for years.

I am sure there might be a few other states that would be a good place to live.

Just my 2 cents: Stay away from residency restrictions and find a place that is affordable to live.

rew

Thank you for the very comprehensive and informative post. You seem really knowledgable about this issue. The reason why I ask is because I was considering moving to Colorado before you mentioned it in your post. I would imagine the Bible Belt would be difficult to live in if you have that legal status. Anyway, thank you for your advice. I appreciate it. :)

Hawaii DOES have an online registry. I keep reading that they don't from time to time, and I just wanted to say that it's simply urban legend to say they don't. Here's the address:

http://sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov/sexoffender/welcome.html

You'll have to enter some location details to get a narrow enough search. But, once you do, you will get a list...with links to photos, etc.

Sorry to be contradictory, but facts trump myth.